Call redirection system

1. A call redirection system for reducing congestion in a local access network having local access network equipment that regulate calls, the call redirection system comprising: a Processing module having access to stored data, the Processing module configured to receive protocol information associated with a call, and to generate a direction message based on the received protocol information and the stored data; and a Direction module coupled to the Processing module, the Direction module configured to receive the direction message from the Processing module and cause the call to be redirected so as to reduce congestion in accordance with the direction message and enable the local access network equipment to regulate the redirected call by routing protocol information from a network protocol interface through a protocol channel to the local access network equipment.

2. The call redirection system of claim 1 where the stored database comprising telephone numbers categorized as different types if calls.

3. The call redirection system of claim 1 where the redirected call bypasses the local access network equipment.

4. The call redirection system of claim 1 where the Processing module transmits the direction message via a channel used by the local access network equipment to convey protocol information.

5. The call redirection system of claim 1 where the Processing module communicates with the Direction module via a communication link.

6. The call redirection system of claim 1 where the Processing module is interfaced to local access network equipment.

7. The call redirection system of claim 1 where the Direction module in interfaced to local access network equipment and instructs said local access network equipment to redirect the call in accordance with the direction message.

8. The call redirection system of claim 1 in which the Direction module is coupled to the Processing module via a communication link.

9. The call redirection system of claim 1 in which the equipment that regulate calls comprise a Switch.

10. A method for redirecting a telephone call to reduce congestion in a local access network having local access network equipment that regulate calls, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, at a processing module and via a protocol channel, protocol information associated with the call; accessing stored data that categorize telephone numbers; generating a direction message based on the protocol information and the stored data; receiving, at a direction module and via the protocol channel, the direction message; and redirecting the call in accordance with the direction message received via the protocol channel so as to reduce congestion in the local access network and to enable the local access network equipment to regulate the redirected call by routine protocol information through the Protocol channel.

11. The method of claim 10 where the step generating the direction message further comprises the step of transmitting the direction message through a protocol channel.

12. The method of claim 10 where the step of redirecting the call further comprises the step of regulating the call.

13. The method of claim 10 where the step of redirecting the call further comprises causing the information associated with the call not to flow through the local access equipment that regulate calls.